Useful Tips For Cooking With A Wok
A wok is a piece of utensil used for cooking which is made from stainless steel, iron, copper or aluminum, having a handle on both sides. It has different features for different cooking styles.
Good quality woks have heavy features so that it can maintain heat. Woks come in different sizes for different recipes.
• Stir-frying – This is considered as the classic way of cooking with the use of a wok. It gives off a smoky flavor because of the cooking technique, which is stirring. For the preparation, make sure all the ingredients are ready.
• Deep-frying – For this technique, make sure that there is enough oil in the wok. Aside from this, maintain a medium-high heat, which ranges only up to 375 degrees. It has a built in structure that can maintain the heat. After this, you only need to wait until the food turns golden-brown. Hence, use a wire strainer in removing the food out of the wok. This is for draining the oil. Another option is to place a paper towel on the plate. Doing so will help absorb excess oils.
• Steam – With steaming using a wok, most people often use bamboo steamers. A bamboo steamer is a round basket that holds the food over the steaming water. In order for the steam to come out, the lid should be tightly closed. Then, place the bamboo steamer in the wok and fill it with some water. The water should be half inch below the steamer. After this, cover the wok and let the water boil over high heat. The duration of the steaming process depends on the particular recipe. Next, carefully remove the bamboo steamer from the wok. Another way of steaming is with the use of a so-called “wire streamer”. This is a good way of braising and smoking food. All you need to do is to place the rack inside a wok and add 1 inch water below the rack. Make sure the water does not touch the rack. You need to then arrange the food which can be steamed in a heatproof plate. You will then put the plate on the rack of the wok. Lastly, cover the wok and maintain medium-heat or as directed in the recipe.
Hence, the curved shape of this utensil acts as its main advantage. This can make the large foods shallow fried. The other spices are automatically deep-fried even with a small amount of oil. Aside from using gas, you can also make use of electric heating elements for woks. Although usage of gas can provide even heat at the bottom of the wok, the electric stove is much needed in a household kitchen. The electric stove can also provide a concave induction along the cooking surface. It can also respond quickly to the changes in temperature. A type of wok that is perfect for a flat round electric stove is the one with the round flat bottom. People are now enjoying the benefits and efficiency of using a wok.
A wok is a utensil used for cooking. It has special features for different cooking styles. It is made of stainless steel iron, copper or aluminum along with a handle found in both sides.
Woks are traditionally used in Chinese cuisine. Chinese recipes have different techniques in cooking. Due to its concave curve structure, heat is being distributed evenly. It is perfect for stir-frying as well. Aside from this, it has a hot spot on the bottom, giving more heat in very low to medium-high fire. This makes it perfect for deep-frying. Wok even has features that can be used for steaming foods.
Woks are also used in restaurants due to their very fast attribute of increasing temperature, allowing the cooking of food even in a short span of time. Although there are various types of pans in the market today, the wok may be the chefs’ first choice.
Chefs can cook with their own style and technique. This piece of art wok makes cooking very easy. The lower arm will then exert a large amount of force since this part is quite heavy, especially if it is used in stir-frying. It’s easy to stir while cooking because the edges make the food seem to push up onto the sides.
Woks have different handles, depending on the brand and type. A wok that has a single handle will help the chef toss the food. It also requires a large amount of arm and wrist strength in order to produce this.
At current, the most common material used in making woks are carbon steel and cast iron. These materials are more costly as compared to the traditional ones. A non-stick wok which is covered with Teflon is the most used variety. Aluminum is also the best conductor of heat. Plus, this makes it much easier to clean. Although it’s the traditional way, aluminum is still soft and can get easily damaged, making it durable for steaming. This is especially because of its lid.
For more information on Steaming With a Wok please visit our website.
Toaster Ovens In Development
There are many toasters available in the market now.
A toaster is a small electric kitchen appliance designed for making toasts. The act of toasting started by placing sliced breads in a metal frame and holding it over a fire or holding it near the fire using a long-handed fork. Brock Hanson invented the electric toaster. In 1913, the couple Copeman submitted applications for different toaster patents and also in that year, Copeman Electric Stove Co introduced the toaster with an automatic bread turner and toaster that turn toast. (Copeman was also the first to invent the first electric stove and the rubber (flexible) ice cube tray.)
Next came semi-automatic toasters, which are still manually-lowered and raised from the toaster through a lever mechanism.
Charles Strite patented in 1919 automatic pop-up toasters. In 1925, a toaster with set heating element on a timer was invented. More new improvised versions of toasters came to the market a few years after.
We can see a lot of older models of toasters that are still out in the market now with new improvised features included. Time will come when many modern types of toasters will be developed for the newer generations.
The toasters in the market today have three varieties, namely: 1. pop-up toasters, 2. toaster ovens, and 3. conveyor toasters.
Pop-up toasters are for sliced breads. You put the bread in the pop-up toaster and set the timer. By the time the bread is already toasting, the bread will just pop-up and the person toasting the bread will know that his bread is already done. A toaster oven is a small electric oven with a door on one side and a tray within. It is smaller than a toaster but is capable of performing most functions just like an electric oven. It may heat incompletely than the other toasters or other larger electric ovens, and some glass cookware cannot be used with them. Conveyor toaster is usually used during catering services because it makes lots slices of toast in a shorter time. It is suitable for large scale use. It can finish 350 to 900 slices in an hour.
There are many toaster ovens available in the market now. There are standard toaster ovens, 2 slice toaster ovens, 4 slice toaster ovens, combination toaster ovens, convection toaster ovens, Rotisserie toaster ovens, infrared toasted ovens, pizza toaster ovens and many more. All of these and many other types are available in the market today.
Whichever toaster oven you will choose, it should suit your requirement and lifestyle. What’s important is that you know the type you can use more and is really useful to you. Toaster ovens are beneficial to busy people especially to those who do not have time to do the manual cooking because of his or her hectic schedules. Toaster ovens can be really of great help. You just prepare the food that you want to cook, put them in your toaster ovens and wait for it to be cooked just by setting the timer. Through the toaster ovens, you can save time and effort, all at the same time.
In case you are wondering about the price of these toaster ovens and you think that you can not afford to buy one, well think again. You can always avail of the affordable toaster ovens in town. You may also ask, what about the quality, will it last long? Well, to be sure, you must also consider the manufacturer, see the features it involves and check its quality –especially if it has a warranty.
Also try surfing on the net to get some reviews or insights from other people who have used such product. You can either ask them or maybe become a member of their club soon. Then you can share some of your recipes with them or you can get their secret recipes to try out.
For more information on Quick and Easy Toaster Oven Recipes please visit our website.
Choosing a Bread Machine
Why do you want to purchase a bread machine?
Begin your hunt by saying, “What’s my reason for looking for a bread machine?” Does your closest buddy have one? Is the smell of sweltering bread enticing? Do you want to be hands on with the ingredients of the bread consumed by your folks? Is it bread that is newly baked you like compared to the ones on the shelves of a grocery? Is it that you want to give a particular person a bolt from the blue with this recently added piece of equipment? Persons and individuals buy bread machines because of so many reasons. Bear in mind-a bread machine is another mini apparatus which is going to eat up a place in your cooking area. Also it could need a bigger deal and cost compared to other little equipments you might have in your kitchen.
How does a bread machine function?
Each and every bread machine has the same make-a control box just as a micro wave oven. It also has a strong mixing tool to facilitate the mixing of ingredients on the slate where the bread will be seared. Then this piece of equipment will also facilitate the placing of the correct heat for the bread to be done. What is required is for you to do are to put the mixture onto the pan, choose the right temperature and settings then take out the bread when it is done. When choosing the right equipment, take note of its make and descriptions.
For people who are really into manufacturing bread, capabilities of a machine like self program will make the maker control the bread machine more to an extent that he or she can make it adjust to their personal mix of ingredients. The said capability of a bread machine is widespread among high-end bread machines
Makers of bread machines puts forward lots of customer help for first time buyers or possessors. The literatures like instructional guides are a big help and you’ll tend to look at them from time to time. Go over the user manual first when you buy a bread machine. Browse the recipe book and try to find out if they’re the ones your folks will like. Some recipe books could be found in stores and places where you could buy books and other reading materials but it’s strongly recommended that you use the ones included upon purchase of the appliance. When you’ve become used to using your equipment, this is the time you might want to consider trying other recipes and ingredients. Also try to look at the other things that come with your bread machine or the bread machine that you want to buy. Others even have customer service phone numbers or a visual presentation on how your machine should be handled.
Lots of these equipment produce remarkable bread however don’t expect that this wont cost you. It costs approximately the same rate as the mediocre bakery offers you. If you want freshly baked bread, on the other hand, a bread machine may help you. You just have to determine the functions that are most valuable to you and your lifestyle.
DIABETIC COOKIES 11
1 1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
3/4 c. margarine
2 eggs
2 tbsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. allspice
1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. soda
1 tbsp. vanilla
1/3 c. brown Sugar Twin
2 c. oatmeal
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. raisins
1/4 c. nuts
Mix applesauce, margarine, eggs, vanilla and Sugar Twin. Add the remaining ingredients. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet and bake 15 minutes at 375 degrees.
Cook’s Tools
Stepping into the kitchen is like stepping into a battlefield. Cooking, and food preparation is the battle. And you are the warrior, the fighter in that battlefield. And in every battle, you must always be well-equipped. A kitchen must be clad with the right equipment to survive the gruesome battle of cooking and food preparation.
You can make most meals with only a good knife, a wooden spoon and a set of tongs. However, there are a couple of items you can do with, and more often than not, should be in most cook’s kitchens. The necessities under the cook’s tools list include the pots, pans, knives and spatulas, so choose the best quality, as you’ll be with them forever.
I have prepared a list of the “essentials” for a cook. These cook’s tools will surely be used often. Aside from the essentials, a list on the items which you wouldn’t need, unless you have one big kitchen and vast funds to spend, has also been made.
The following items are not arranged according to importance, but instead are just as important as each other. Essential to a cook are: tongs, preferably around 12″ long and can be used either fully opened or locked into a mostly-closed position; wooden spoons and spatulas, have as many as you have room for; spatulas, use metal for metal pans and plastic-coated or wood for non-stick; a rasper (also called a microplane): For grating cheese or chocolate or nutmeg; sieve on a handle; a vegetable peeler; a can opener, either mechanical or electric. In essence, never forget about the cutting tools (knives, scissors) as they are just as useful as for other purposes, even outside the kitchen.
As the kitchen is a battlefield, never go to war without the big guns. Most of the important cook’s tools are the heavy equipment, or the kitchen stove, oven. Toasters, and microwave ovens are also slowly becoming a necessity, specially in this fast paced environment. Choosing the most expensive items is not really choosing the best items. Instead, look for those that have quality assurance, and are already known for the products they manufacture.
Okay, wrapping it up, the essentials in a cook’s tool set are those tools, equipments that are most often used in cooking and food preparation. Examples are knives, stoves, pans, spatulas, and so on.
Now, let’s dig into the tools which are present in the market, but are not usually used in the kitchen. We may call them nuisances, or excess baggage in the kitchen. But hey, they can be of use seasonally. Unnecessary cook’s tools include Egg slicers, tomato slicers, specialized choppers, all you need in place of this is a good knife; garlic presses, all one needs is a good chef’s knife and cutting board. These are generally difficult to wash and bulky in a gadget drawer.
There’s also that egg timer. I mean, who needs an egg timer? Is three minutes that hard to take count of already? Corn zippers, too. Again, all you need is a good knife. One of the most common unnecessary cook’s tool at home are those seasonal items, say for example, that heart shaped pan for Valentine’s Day, or the Christmas themed jar.
Wrapping it up once more, unnecessary tools are those that only take up space and more often than, spend more time in storage than in actual use.
Having knowledge on the necessary equipment in your cook’s tool set will help you save space in your kitchen, and money in your wallets. Let’s remember that the best cook’s tools are not necessarily those that are expensive, but rather those that are valuable, more often used, and will last as long.
Broccoli Quiche Recipe
A quiche is a French breakfast pastry that is made with a flaky crust and the primary ingredients of eggs and milk. Depending on how you make this particular cuisine, it can either be light and fluffy or it may be rather dense. Although it is possible to put almost any type of meat or vegetable into one of these dishes, one of the most popular vegetables that can be used is broccoli. That is probably why so many individuals are looking for a broccoli quiche recipe on the Internet. If you’re looking for one of these recipes yourself, you would probably be surprised with all the variety that you are going to find.
At the very base of any good broccoli quiche recipe is going to be the crust. As a matter of fact, the more flaky and delicious the crust happens to be, the better the entire dish is going to be received. It is possible for you to make one of these crusts yourself and many people would never think about buying one which is store-bought. If you’re able to make a good crust for a quiche, that is almost an art form in itself. So, before you look for a good broccoli quiche recipe, make sure that you take a little bit of time to find out how to make the crust. It will make the entire dish all that much more delicious.
Two other things that find a main part in any good quiche recipe are the eggs and milk. That is why it is important for you to make sure that you are choosing the best quality products that you can possibly find. Eggs are relatively inexpensive but as with anything else, you get what you pay for. If you don’t have any local eggs available that you can get right from the farm, make sure that you are choosing an organic variety because the taste difference is going to be noticeable. The same is also true with milk. Get the best quality milk that you possibly can and use whole milk as it will give you better results.
You also need to decide if you’re going to include any meat in your broccoli quiche recipe. This is really where you get the opportunity to become a little bit creative. Perhaps you just want a vegetarian recipe and this will be simple enough for you to find. Just cut out the vegetables and add them according to your own particular tastes. Many people, however, enjoy putting a little bit of meat in their quiche recipe. Some of the most popular types of meat includes sausage, bacon and on rare occasion, beef. You should pre-cook any meat that you are putting into your broccoli quiche recipe as it may not have the opportunity to cook the whole way through while the quiche is baking.
The only thing left is for you to serve your quiche to anybody that is waiting. You will be able to tell how much they enjoy your creation within moments after they take their first, delicious bite.
Ray runs multiple successful recipe sites. Visit his Broccoli Quiche Recipe site to download a free broccoli quiche recipe report: http://www.broccoliquicherecipe.com
Anyone Can Have a Pig Roast With the Right Tools
Parties come in all shapes and sizes. There are many ways to have a party that is unique, instead of just choosing to have the same type of gathering that is thrown on a monthly basis. A pig roast is a great way to have a party that will be different from the other events of the year. It will stand out and set the organizers apart from the other parties that precede and follow.
While a lot of people think that such an event would be too difficult to organize, it actually is possible. There are things that are important to know in order to throw this type of event. Once those things are discovered and mastered, anyone can have a successful and entertaining event that everyone enjoys.
First, it is important to choose the Pig. A successful pig roast will use the correct size of Pig. It is important to get the right size, as a Pig that is too large will be difficult to prepare. Also, food can be wasted if the Pig that is chosen is too large. Smaller pigs also cost less money so, the budget can be spared with the selection of a reasonably sized main course.
The preparation of the Pig is also important. Some people choose to use high priced hardware, while other people have managed to make good use out of the items they can readily procure without breaking the bank. This is a fast and affordable way to make the meal. Instead of spending a lot of additional money, costs can be cut considerably by using this method.
Also, during the preparation period, it is important to prepare the Pig in a way that makes it look traditional. Many people like to stick an apple in the Pig’s mouth. That is the method that is most often used in events, and it can be done with ease if the correct methods are followed.
Selecting the right side dishes is also important. There are certain things that go great in a pig roast and people who have never taken part in such an event may not know which items to select. Side items help make the meal even better and allow guests to enjoy themselves more.
The right sauces and spices are also necessary in order to make the event the best it can be. There are many wonderful flavorings that can make the Pig taste much better. With the right selection, the party is sure to be a success.
Just as taste is important so are drinks. It is best to have a unique selection of both alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages. It is fun if the drinks are not common beverages that can be found anywhere.
The importance of atmosphere cannot be ignored, either. Atmosphere is incredibly important at an event such as this, as it helps to set the tone for the party. The perfect atmosphere can consist of games and music. It is important for party throwers to find activities that compliment the event.
Pig Roast Recipe helps customers with everything they need in order to create the perfect pig roast. From selection to the Pig, to preparation, to atmosphere, the company is able to help people create an event that is both fun and affordable. They have recipes so their customers can create their own drinks as well. For more information, visit them online at http://www.pigroastrecipe.com.
W. Douglas Schellig is semi-retired. He has spent a lifetime in developing the right tools to have a pig roast. For more information on a pig roast visit http://www.pigroastrecipe.com.
Favorite Chicken Recipe: Chicken and Bean Burritos
Having a simple meal for the entire family is easy, delicious, and healthy. Add into the equation Mexican food, and you will find you have a delicious meal for any occasion. Having a favorite chicken recipe on hand when mingled with Mexican food cuisine will obviously take you to explore this recipe.
Choosing the best solution for your needs means looking at a lot of Mexican food recipes. In addition, you will want to explore the differences between Tex-Mex food and Mexican food. This Chicken and Bean Burritos recipe incorporates a lot of healthy possibilities along with delicious Tex-Mex cuisine that is not always for the healthy conscious.
Chicken and Bean Burritos
Ingredients:
4-5 chicken breasts (or thighs or a mixture)
1 small onion chopped
1-2 bay leaves
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/8 tsp red pepper
1/8 tsp white pepper
1/8 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
chicken stock or broth
1 red onion chopped
1-2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced fine
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
grated Colby-Jack cheese
fat free sour cream
2 cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
salsa
lettuce, chopped
tomatoes, chopped
burrito-sized flour tortillas
Directions:
Place chicken, onion, bay leaves, spices in a pot and cover with chicken stock. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer until the chicken is done. Remove the chicken, let cool and shred. Strain the broth and save.
Drain and rinse the pinto beans. Place the pinto beans in a food processor and process until smooth, adding a couple of tablespoons of either salsa or chicken broth or sour cream if too thick.
In a bowl, combine the chicken and beans, again adding salsa or the chicken stock until the filling mixture is moist enough to stick together. (If you get it too wet, add more processed beans). Add the chopped red onion, the jalapeno pepper and the chopped cilantro and mix.
Take a large flour tortilla and spread with a little bit of the fat free sour cream and some grated cheese. Add a couple of tablespoons of the filling on one end and fold the sides over and then roll up. You can use a toothpick to keep it rolled up or place it end side down to keep it from unrolling.
Either bake in the oven at 450F until brown and crunchy or microwave until hot. Serve topped with lettuce, tomatoes and red onion, fat free sour cream, grated cheese, salsa and jalapenos.
Have you heard this one….
A Texan’s explanation (exaggerated and over simplified) of what is Tex-Mex food?
“Anything with jalapeno peppers in it or with it is Tex-Mex!”
“Anything that is chicken-fried is Texas cooking”.
“The basic food groups in Texas are: chili, barbecue, beans, jalapenos and Meskun food!”
Remember, if you are looking for an exception chicken recipe for your next meal, you may find just what you are looking for with the Mexican food recipe. Filled with delicious goodness, you will definitely make this a favorite in your household. In addition, you can easily cater this to meet your family’s needs and preferences.
More about Annie Dubois and great Mexican food or gift boxes can be found at Mexican Food & Gifts To Go.
Chicken Recipe: Texas Pecan Chicken
When it comes to exceptional dining, you do not have to leave the house. Making exceptionally delicious and appealing meals is so easy even a novice can do it correctly. With so many options on the market today, you will find that you can choose basically any ingredient and achieve culinary perfection. Just remember, everyone will have a preference when it comes to cooking and eating.
Mexican food is a favorite genre for fine dining in and out of the home. A simple chicken recipe can and will go a long way bringing the wonderful praise you deserve. In addition, the right chicken recipe is healthy while bringing the family closer together. Whether you make meals for one or a dozen, there are superb opportunities for keeping it safe, affordable, and scrumptious.
One of my favorites when it comes to Mexican food is this Texas Pecan Chicken. Delicious and healthy at the same time! Who could ask for more?
Texas Pecan Chicken
Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
8 ounces fresh mushrooms, chopped
1/2 small onion, diced or 6 green onions
2 tablespoons butter
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon French style mustard
1 tablespoon snipped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups finely diced Texas pecans
1 cup fine bread crumbs
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
Directions:
On hard surface with meat mallet, pound chicken to 1/4 inch thickness. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté mushrooms and onions in butter. Cool. Mix with cream cheese, mustard and thyme. Divide into 4 equal portions and spread on each piece of chicken. Fold over ends and roll up, pressing edges to seal.
Mix pecans, bread crumbs and parsley in a bowl. Dip chicken in butter, then into crumbs, turning to coat. Place on greased baking sheet seam side down. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until done. Makes 4 servings.
Serve with rice and tossed salad.
When you are considering this fine Mexican food cuisine, you are going to find you can change the calories and fat content without losing the delicious taste. Here are a few suggestions for substituting ingredients to make this healthier for anyone watching their diet.
– Instead of butter, use a healthier butter substitute. This will reduce the fat and calories while offering the same great taste.
– Use fresh Texas pecans. These pecans are specifically made for this recipe and can be purchased easily especially if you happen to live in Texas.
– Use a low-fat cream cheese instead of the regular cream cheese. This tastes just as good especially in cooking this recipe.
– Instead of salt, use a low sodium salt. This will give you the taste enhancement while also giving you some needed minerals.
Remember, Mexican food recipes are popular these days, and the wonderful thing about this chicken recipe is that it can be easily modified to fit a healthy lifestyle. Simply make a couple substitutions for a wonderful meal that will please the most finicky of eaters.
More about Annie Dubois and great Mexican food or gift boxes can be found at Mexican Food & Gifts To Go.
The Infrawave Oven – The Latest Appliance for the Modern Kitchen
There is a new kitchen appliance that makes baking, grilling and other cooking chores faster and easier than ever before. Called an Infrawave oven, it uses infrared light technology to make cooking and baking up to 50% faster than with a conventional oven, a toaster oven or even a microwave.
The oven uses a higher frequency infrared lightwave to cook food and this results in brown and crispy foods where a microwave sometimes yields bland versions of the same dish. Meats are cooked on the inside and the outside at the same time. Chef-quality is how the food has been described by folks tasting it. The Infraware oven is more like a small convection oven than it is to a microwave.
The oven actually sends out two different types of infrared waves. The first are shorter, high frequency waves that cooks the surface of the food to make the food crispy. The other type are long, lower frequency waves that cook the inner sections of the food. What results are professional, chef-quality prepared fish, poultry and meats cooked in almost half the time a conventional oven would take. Your family will be enjoying faster and healthier meals in less time than ever before.
There’s no preheating or thawing needed either. The Infrawave oven takes care of that as well. What a time-saving convenience that is. In fact, many frozen foods are completely cooked in under 20 minutes.
Not much larger than a toaster oven, the unit is small and compact with a footprint of only 15 inches wide by 14 inches deep.
It has a capacity of 0.7 cubic feet with inside dimensions of 10-5/16 inches x 11 inches x 6 inches tall. The oven is also equipped with a digital touch pad, a digital display and a slide out crumb tray. The especially unique aspects of the Infrawave are its ability to “know” how to cook your food based on the settings you choose. The unit is equipped with a touchpad that you use to program the oven for whatever type of food you are preparing.
You simply input the type of food that you’re going to cook (steak, chicken, lasagna, potatoes, etc.) and the Infrawave oven automatically sets the cooking temperature and time. You can even set the oven to alert you at different cooking times, depending on the style of cooking you want.
For example, you can choose ‘regular’ and ‘crispy’ and then when the cooking time is done for the regular cycle, the oven will alert you and then when the cooking time is done for the crispy cycle it will alert you once again. There are a number of different preset options available as well so you won’t be stuck looking for the perfect choice.
You don’t need special cooking dishware either; any cookware that is suitable for a conventional oven is acceptable to use including ovenproof dishes without lids or metal or ceramic cookware. You need to make certain to keep the cookware and the food you’re cooking at least one inch away from the upper heating elements.
All in all, any modern well-equipped kitchen will benefit from the addition of this appliance with its ability to produce chef-quality foods in less time than ever called the Infrawave oven.
Would you like to know more about the Infrawave oven? Visit http://Infrawave-Oven.org to get more information and all the details you need to make a wise and informed decision.
A Texan View of Cooking on the Grill
As a natural born Texan, I cut my teeth on dominoes and starting cooking on the grill about the same time I threw away my training wheels. Texas cooking on a grill is just what you are supposed to do. If you are aspiring to become the next great American grill company or just want some grill recipes for steak, you are at the right spot.
Cooking on the grill is not only fun but if you get good at it, you will find friends you never knew you had. Easiest way to start on the grill is cooking hamburgers. Now I am not talking about just any ole hamburger, I am talking the kind people tell other people about. Look for hamburger recipes for the grill to begin with.
Naturally my own personal recipe includes Worcester Shire sauce, ketchup, onion powder and garlic powder. Take the ketchup and put some in a bowl. Don’t be afraid to put some in there. Then take the Worcester Shire sauce and pour some in there until the ketchup is still thick but yet has become slightly creamy. Add a good amount of the onion powder and the garlic powder. What I consider good is that when I pour the powder on, I can’t see the ketchup. Now mix this all up real good. You now got a good sauce to add to your hamburgers. When they start to get done, bask each side with the recipe. This will be mighty fine eating.
Now cooking a steak is something else. If you can’t cook a steak on the grill to perfection, then you either need to hang up your thongs or practice a whole bunch. Let’s grill some rib eyes. I am thinking about 1 to 1 ½ inch thick weighing in around 14 – 16 ounces. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Some Texans love t-bones but I favorite the rib eyes because they can be really tender. Think of all that marble fat getting into your arteries and clogging them up. In the mean time, boy does it takes good going down.
What are the grill times for steak? This can depend a lot on your skills of building a hot fire. The hotter the fire, the better. Charcoal sure gives off a good flavor but mesquite which west Texas has a lot of those just about worthless trees sure do give a great flavor on the grill. For the grill steak temperature varies on how you like your meat. if you like rare then the temperature should be in the 115 – 120 degrees. Some folks like a medium rare so let the temperature rise to about 125-130 degrees. I am a medium well kind of guy so I like my steaks to reach somewhere around 135 – 145 degrees. Anything higher gives you a well done steak. How long to grill filet mignon Don’t overlook this; the meat will keep on cooking once you remove it from the grill. How a steak looks on the grill is pretty important also.
Steaks aren’t the only thing good on a grill. I used to eat lobsters that have been boiled or baked in the oven. I discovered some grill lobster tail recipe and oh boy, do I now love grilled lobsters. Just mix a little butter and garlic and bask it on the lobster tail. It only takes a few minutes to cook lobster. It is easy to over cook and it looses it tenderness. Cooking lobster or other fishes require your constant attention. There are plenty of bonefish grill recipes on the web.
I love pork cooked on the grill. Down here in Texas, we consider pork the other white meat. There is nothing like cooking a pork loin roast on grill for Sunday’s lunch. Pork chops are pretty good as well. How to grill pork loin is fairly simple. I do mine by look. I cook it a minute or two on each side to lock in the juices. I then cook for 3-4 minutes on one side and then flip them over and do the same. If it looks done, I take a knife and poke in the thickest spot. If it doesn’t bleed, then I take it off the grill and server.
I guess the next question people are going to ask is this. How long do you grill chicken? Chicken on the grill is almost as good as southern fried. In Texas, when it comes to cooking, our motto is “If you fry, I will try it”. Lets get healthy for a moment. If you got a hot fire, you can cook your chicken in about 10 -12 minutes. I always de-skinned mine so that I don’t have to worry about the flare ups.
Jerbob Johnson owns the http://www.GrillCookingRecipes.com. Grill Cooking Recipesis a successful website specializing in cooking information and BBQ grills and equipment to enjoy the great outdoors. Visit our store to become the next great American grill company
Authentic Julep Recipes
Brandy Mint Julep
1 spoon of powdered sugar
1 small shot of Bourbon Whiskey
1 small shot of peach brandy
A few sprigs of mint leaves
Mix as directed for a standard julep. Use plenty of crushed ice and frappe with a long-handled bar spoon.
It is heresy even to mention it, but some Georgia julep experts make theirs by substituting Bourbon Whiskey for cognac brandy. Whichever you use, the Bourbon or brandy, remember that quicker and prettier frosting will result if you use a silver or other metal goblet rather than glass. The outside of the container must be kept dry if it is to take on a good frost, so do not hold it in your hand when mixing.
St. Regis Mint Julep
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of water
1 dozen mint leaves
1 large shot of rye whiskey
½ shot of rum
1 dash of grenadine
Into a tall glass crush the mint leaves with a bar spoon. Dissolve the sugar in water and stir. Pour in the whiskey and rum, then the grenadine syrup. Fill the glass with crushed ice and mix with the spoon. When properly frapped decorate the top with sprigs of mint.
This recipe departs in two ways from the usual—the use of rye for Bourbon and the introduction of grenadine syrup. In spite of its straying from the neither straight nor narrow path of Bourbon, this julep is exceedingly good on a hot day, or any day, for that matter. It is the julep that was served at the St. Regis Restaurant bar and was the pride of head bartender John Swago.
Louisiana Mint Julep
1 teaspoon of powdered sugar
1 ½ shots of Bourbon Whiskey
A few sprigs of mint
Crushed ice
Put a dozen leaves of mint in a bar glass, cover with powdered sugar and just enough water to dissolve the sugar.
Crush sugar and mint leaves gently with a muddler or bar spoon. Pour half the mint and sugar liquid in the bottom of the tall glass in which the julep is to be served. Then enough shaved or snowball ice to half full.
Next add the remaining mint and sugar liquid and fill nearly to the top with shaved ice. Pour in the Bourbon until the glass is full to the brim.
Place in the refrigerator at least an hour before serving to acquire ripeness and frost. Top with mint sprigs.
There once was a time when the mint julep was strictly a symbol of the South—a green and silver emblem of Dixie’s friendly leisure. But today the mint julep, that most glorious of summer drinks, is becoming as popular above the Mason and Dixon line as below it. It is very typical to walk into a bar or cocktail lounge and find a line of juleps resting on their stone coasters (http://www.thirstycoasters.com/servlet/-strse-Garden-Accents/Categories).
Some term the Louisiana julep the last word in perfection, so if you have the feeling you haven’t sampled a real julep, try the above. If you are still in doubt and are willing to go to some trouble, try the one below.
New Orleans Mint Julep
Put the glasses or the metal goblets in the refrigerator the night before you are to serve juleps. This is a high-powered julep so you’ll need two large shots of Bourbon for every glass. It is also recommended to have absorbent coasters, http://www.thirstycoasters.com/servlet/-strse-Hope%20For%20The%20Cure/Categories, on hand since the frosty glasses will produce much condensation. A good host will not want the drink glasses dripping on their guests.
In the serving glass drop a layer of mint leaves, fill ¼ full with shaved or snowball ice, then one teaspoon of powdered sugar. Repeat until the glass is half full.
Add one shot of Bourbon. Repeat until the glass is full, the second shot of Bourbon being the last to go into the glass. Serve on a tray with a straw in each goblet so that the hand does not touch the container, which will be frosted white.
Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in fine wines and dining. For an amazing selection of sandstone coasters and other accessories, please visit http://www.thirstycoasters.com/index.html.
What Everybody Ought to Know About Oven Recipes
Feeling under-the-weather? Too exhausted to cook something good? Still wanting tasty food? There’s a quick solution and its two feet away from a possible frying-related accident: the oven. Thanks to oven recipes, steaming, hot food is now often readily available, and can be reused for an amount of times.
Oven recipes have been around for as long as the oven itself. In 3200 B.C., settlers among the Indus Valley Civilization were already reported to have had ovens in their mud and brick houses. However, the Greeks initially utilized the oven for bread-making, so you could say that the first oven recipe was one for bread, As a result, over seventy different kinds of bread had been developed in Ancient Greece alone. After the Greeks progressed onto making various cakes and pastries, the oven became popular around the world. Nowadays, no kitchen is complete without a standard cardboard box-sized oven, and no food results from it without an oven recipe.
Oven recipes have no clear-cut definition, but naturally they require the usage of an oven. It is often assumed that oven recipes do not involve any other technology used for cooking, but most of the time, that is not the case. One may fry, grill, boil or use any other method of cooking for the ingredients, as long as using an oven is the last step before achieving the final, tasty product. Ovens are used for roasting and heating food; therefore, most oven recipes cover either pastries (most of which are baked) or meat products, such as casseroles.
The highlight of oven recipes is the wide range of food one can produce from just one kind of technology. A common misconception for oven recipes is that they are all difficult to make, as well as time-consuming. When thinking of them, people usually think of cakes, pies, roast beef, and casseroles. However, most do not realize that a lot of them are simple. In fact, some oven recipes include recipes for toast, brownies and even covers food made from leftovers, such as fish and chips. A roast beef may be expensive to cook, but simple toast for breakfast, thanks to the toaster oven, costs less than a dollar to make.
Another advantage to oven recipes is the reusability factor. As mentioned earlier, leftovers are common ingredients for the easiest recipes. Extra beef or pork can just be thrown into a casserole, while other foods can simply be reheated in a microwave oven. If a dish can’t be consumed entirely, leaving it in an un-operated oven will keep it safe from ants, and it won’t rot quickly. Oven recipes are easy ways to save money, especially when on a tight budget. One of the few disadvantages is that, with leftovers, the quality of food may not be as good as before. Also, ovens require a lot of grease, vegetable oil or butter to operate, and most results of oven recipes are quite oily. However, oven recipes cover their fair share of healthy food. You just have to find the right recipe!
Recipes For Your Dehydrator
From soups to pies your favorite recipes will love what dried food can do for them when you purchase from your choice of food dehydrators. Recipes will be enhanced with dried foods and you will be able to store dry foods longer to prepare whenever you need that special recipe. From apples to thyme dried foods can help your recipes taste their best and you can dry those special ingredients with dehydrators. When you have a special recipe you want it to taste just right a dried ingredient may just be what separates your recipe from all the rest and makes it the best.
When you are making your specialty recipes you want to make sure that you always have the ingredients you need. If you find yourself needing an ingredient that is out of season you can now have the ingredients you need anytime when you dehydrate those special ingredients. Dehydrating fruits, nuts, herbs and spices can help you have what you need to complete your favorite recipes even if that ingredient is out of season. If you have the capability to dry foods you can have what you need at anytime you may need it. Dehydration can also give you what you need when it comes to recipes with vegetables. Vegetables can be dehydrated also and you can make as much as you need or as little as you need. So making that great vegetable soup recipe is possible even in the middle of winter when you use dehydration to dry your vegetables.
Freshness sometimes is what may make or break a recipe. When you want fresh herbs and spices for any recipe drying them with food dehydrators may be what sets your recipe a part form everyone else. Drying your own herbs and spices allows them to be as fresh as possible and allows your recipe to soak up the entire great fresh flavor. Drying your own herbs and spices will also give you pride in knowing that you are providing the freshest ingredients you can in all your recipes.
Drying fruits for pies is another way a dehydrator can come in handy especially when fruit is off season. If you want to make the best apple pies for Thanksgiving and Christmas you can dry your apples in the summer when they are in season, which means if you buy them you will save money. Once you have your apples dry them and they will be ready anytime you want to make the best tasting apple pies for your family and friends. You can also dry other fruits to make your favorite pies. Maybe it isn’t pie you want to make but breads and muffins your dessert choices are endless when you dry your fruit.
You will love what drying fruits, nuts, vegetables and herbs & spices do to your favorite family recipes. Everyone will love the freshness and the taste that dehydration can bring to all your recipes. So make your choice from the food dehydrators that are available to you and your recipes will love it.
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How do I go About Preparing an Easy Meal?
Preparing a meal isn’t really a chore. All you need is proper planning. And also you need to remember that cooking is an art, you can easily prepare gourmets for the family. Moreover, there are so many simple recipes available for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Have a folder dedicated to these recipes, make a list and swap your menu accordingly.
Some helpful tips:
1. Plan your weekly menu ahead of time, do the necessary grocery shopping.
2. Stock up all the basics that you’ll need for the whole week, buy some extras as well. You never know when a guest might land. Have adequate quantities of vegetables, fresh fruits, rice, whole grains, bread, pita bread, brown rice and pasta, yoghurt, milk, cheese, fish, lean meat, poultry, beans, eggs, lentils, seeds and nuts. You’ll also need some essential spices to prepare a meal, stock up those as well.
3. Store the raw materials on the basis of your planned menu. That will save you some time.
4. Have some quick to serve recipes of salads, toppings etc, at hand. These are quick snacks, easy to prepare and serve.
5. Have stock of chicken breasts (frozen), they are the main ingredient of every meal, very easy to cook and everyone loves chicken. You can just dump it in the oven and get it baked.
6. You can opt for ready-to-eat foods; these are usually frozen and canned. Not all of us prefer canned food, it depends actually. If there’s no time absolutely, then only one might use these canned food. You get everything in frozen form, from veggies to fruits, salad greens, salmon, beans and meat.
7. You can always store cooked food in advance, that save time and gives you space as well. If you are cooking rice tonight, cook double meals. The leftovers can be used the next day. Always cook twice the amount that will help you prepare different meals every day, with same ingredients; just a slight swapping is needed.
8. Baking is easier and even quicker. Moreover, you won’t need to clean up piles of dishes.
9. Do the dough making business all at once and refrigerate. You can also store soups and stews in batches.
10. Always cut the fresh vegetables in advance; it takes a lot of time. Veggies are very healthy and you must include it in your diet. Avoid these hassles when you are cooking. Always cut the vegetables and freeze.
11. You can use a slow cooker for cooking healthy and nutritious meals. You can place the ingredients that need to be cooked just before leaving home, once you are back, your meal is ready. Recipes for slow cooker can also be availed.
Are you doubtful? Can cooking really be so easy? Yes of course, if you plan well and maintain it, it can be very easy to serve the family a nutritious and healthy meal. Cooked food is far better than the canned ones, follow the above mentioned tips and you will be doing a great job.
We offer a large variety of information – from how to make sushi to how to bake chicken.
Searching for the Perfect Chocolate Fudge Recipe
Chocolate fudge is a favorite candy of millions. It is very rich tasting and usually is used only for special occasions like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Many avid fudge lovers are looking for recipes all the time so they can enjoy new tastes and flavors. Most fudge eaters will have a large collection of their favorite recipes or the web address of their favorite confectioners on hand for quick shipping. For a batch of chocolate fudge to be considered excellent, it needs to have three main qualities.
Easy To Make
If you plan on enjoying the chocolate fudge, you need to either have a recipe that is easy to make or a company that will send it to you quickly. Most people will not even attempt to make candy if it is not easy to finish. They want the taste without all the hassles. The details associated with chocolate fudge making including the thermometer readings, the time, the stirring are best left to professionals who do not mind creating this sweet treat for others.
Tasting Good
No doubt, the chocolate candy needs to be great tasting or all that work would be for nothing. Chocolate fudge that is right makes one close their eyes and feel the soft rich flavor melt away in their mouth. The problem with trying to make chocolate fudge on your own is that it might not mix properly and be sugary in texture. It does make wonderful cake icing if this happens so it might not be a total waste. The good chocolate fudge comes form those confectioners who have made it a lifetime ambition to create these delicate delights for others. You might just want to order it and keep it on hand instead.
Finding The Ingredients
The great fudge recipes have good ingredients that are easy to find. They need to be readily available at your local grocery store. Most find it is easier to follow the recipe that is on the container of marshmallow créme. It might make the chocolate fudge but it does not taste the same. If you plan on having fudge around for the holidays, you need to make sure you order it well in advance or you might find it is sold out. You might even be given the gift of perfect chocolate fudge for the season. You will not find any treat that means more or tastes better than this one will.
Don’t Give Up
The perfect chocolate fudge recipe is out there somewhere so do not give up in your search to find it. In the mean time, you might want to look out over the vast internet and find yourself a wonderful confectioner who can provide you with the chocolate fudge you need until such time as your golden discovery is made. Your friends and family might even know where you can look for your fudge recipe and should have no trouble sharing it with you as long as you promise to bring them some when it is finished.
Tanner’s Pecan is owned and operated by Danny Fox and Michelle Parks and offers great chocolate fudge. Visit Tanner’s Pecans today for the best selection of chocolate fudge and Pecans.
Tips For Baking the Perfect Cookie
When you’re baking cookies, taking a few moments to prepare and make sure you have everything you need will insure that your cookies will turn out the best. Here are some tips to help you bake the perfect cookie:
The Recipe
There are hundreds of different cookies, and thousands of variations. You’ll want to make sure you have selected a good recipe, first and foremost. If you don’t have much time, consider no bake cookies. If you don’t have a lot of ingredients, consider cookie recipes with fewer ingredients like a shortbread cookie or a simple sugar cookie. If you want to bake with kids, consider a cookie that takes fewer steps to complete and doesn’t require an electric mixer.
Baking Tools and Utensils
For the baking tools and utensils, there are a few must haves. First, a good mixing bowl is crucial. From stainless steel to plastic to glass, you have a lot of choices in this area. There’s also utensils that are important. To make great cookies, you need a strong mixing spoon, wood is best. You will also need a spatula for removing the cookies from the cookie sheets. Don’t forget the cookie sheets either. You can use standard square pans with a lip going all the way around the edge or a flat sheet with only one lip on one edge. You may also consider using a silicone baking pad, which eliminates the need to grease your cookie sheets.
Preparation
One great tip is to leave your butter out for at least an hour before you start to make the cookies. Many people forget this step and have to wait for the butter to soften before they can proceed. Also, take a few minutes to prepare all your ingredients, cooking show style. This way you have much less risk of using the wrong ingredient or too much or too little of an ingredient. Having your ingredients already prepared and measured will not only make your baking faster and easier, but cleanup will be much easier. Once you have your ingredients prepared, get out your mixing bowls and spoons, cookie sheets, spatula and wire racks. Make sure everything is clean and ready to use.
Ingredients
Freshness of ingredients is key with cookies. If the recipe calls for butter or eggs, as many cookie recipes do, make sure to check the expiration date for each item. Also, use your sense of smell to detect butter or eggs or another ingredient that just isn’t fresh enough or is downright old. Don’t use any ingredient that isn’t reasonably fresh. Try not to use baking soda that has not been sealed properly either, as it may contain smells or flavors from other foods or spices it was stored with. Always properly seal and store your pantry food items. For butter, chocolate, frosting, raisins, etc., make sure to taste these items before you use them to make sure they taste ok and haven’t soured or changed in flavor.
Last but not least, don’t forget to enjoy the process and the finished product!
Discover hundreds of cookie recipes in many tasty categories including sugar cookie recipes, chocolate chip cookie recipes, peanut butter cookie recipes, Christmas cookie recipes and many more at Cookie-Recipes.net, the web’s largest cookie recipe website. Visit us at:http://www.cookie-recipes.net/
The Benefits of Letting Your Children Help in the Kitchen
Cooking with your children isn’t only fun and rewarding, it is educational for your children and can help ‘faddy’ eaters to try more foods. Cooking also seems to be a skill that is not taught in schools any more and many young people leave home without knowing basic cooking skills. Teach children’s cooking from an early age and your children will appreciate it in the future.
Children’s cooking can be dangerous and can lead to arguments and stress if not planned properly and supervised well. Here are some top tips for children’s cooking and baking:-
Preparation Tips:-
1. Pick a recipe together and make sure it’s nice and simple. Search online for basic children’s cooking and baking recipes.
2. Read the recipe through together and figure out what ingredients and utensils you will need.
3. Clear the workspace or table and get out all of the ingredients, utensils and things like scales and mixers.
4. Wash hands in hot water with soap before starting, and teach your children about hygiene.
5. Run some hot soapy water into a washing up bowl so that you and the children can toss used utensils into it to soak.
6. Weigh out each ingredient and set aside ready to use at the appropriate time.
Chopping:-
1. Supervise children when chopping or cutting foods.
2. Use sharp knives and the correct knife for the task.
3. Use a chopping board to protect surfaces.
4. Show children how to cut with their fingers tucked away, or use a fork to hold the food still while cutting.
5. Wash sharp knives immediately or put in the dishwasher. Don’t toss sharp knives into the washing up bowl, you or your children might forget they are there and cut your fingers while washing up.
Kitchen Safety
1. Have kitchen rules – For example, no running in the kitchen, mopping up spillages straight away and drying the floor, always washing your hands before cooking etc.
2. Put pans to the back of the hob and if you need to use the front rings, make sure that pan handles don’t stick out.
3. Don’t let children put things in the oven or take them out. Let your children watch you as you wear oven gloves.
4. Keep your hands dry and don’t use electrical equipment or sockets with damp hands.
5. Take care when frying foods with children because hot oil can spit.
6. Teach children not to get to close to the hob or to touch rings, even when they are off.
7. Keep a fire blanket, fire extinguisher and first aid kit in the kitchen.
8. Teach children the importance of using separate or clean chopping boards for raw meat and other foods.
9. Teach children to wash their hands after handling raw meat.
There are some basic cooking skills that are important to teach your children, for use in the future, as well as hygiene and safety rules. Here are some skills to incorporate into your children’s cooking and baking sessions:-
1. Pastry making – make different types of pastry with your children and enjoy making pies, turn overs, blind baking pastry cases and making jam tarts etc.
2. The rubbing-in method – Teach children to use the rubbing-in method for pastry making, baking and crumbles.
3. Creaming – Make cakes and show them how to cream the butter and sugar until pale.
4. Folding – Folding flour into a cake mixture in a figure of eight movement is vital to keep the air in the mixture, show children how to do it.
5. Whisking and beating – Show children how to use a hand whisk and an electric one to whisk cream and cake mixes.
6. Chopping and dicing – Show children how to chop an onion in different ways – slicing or chopping finely, and show them how to dice vegetables.
7. Peeling – Teach your children how to use a peeler for peeling potatoes, carrots and fruit.
8. Grating – Let children grate cheese and use a finer grater to grate lemon rind.
9. Mashing – Let children mash boiled potatoes with margarine, milk and a masher.
10. Squeezing – Let children squeeze the juice from oranges and lemons.
11. Kneading – Make bread with your children and have fun kneading the dough.
12. Rolling out – Roll out pastry or cookie dough with a rolling pin and use cookie cutters to make funny shaped cookies.
13. Greasing and lining – Show them how to grease and line cake tins with fat and greaseproof paper.
14. How to use utensils and equipment – Let children use scales, whisks, sieves, knives, blenders and food processors with supervision.
15. Have fun – Most importantly, make children’s cooking and baking fun, and cook and bake a variety of foods and dishes.
Derrek Lewek is a keen amateur chef, who works for the Brenda Oakes Discount Kitchenware web site. Here you can buy brand name cookware and kitchen appliances at very low prices. Whether you are looking for Le Creuset Cast Iron Pans or a just a kitchen knife, you can find a top quality cookware product at a discount price.
Making The Most Of Your Electric Steamer
Electric steamers are one of the most versatile tools in the kitchen. Electric steamers, in some stores, might also be known as rice cooker/food steamer. Under either name, steaming your vegetables, as well as your rice is a healthy way to prepare a flavorful meal.
Cooking vegetables: Most times, when cooking vegetables on the stove top, you will end up with mushy, pale green vegetables and water that carries more nutrition than the cooked vegetable itself. What takes place when cooking vegetables on the stove is the vitamins and minerals that the vegetable is known for will get swallowed by the water. When cooking vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, and asparagus on the stove top, we tend to cook until tender and pale. Actually, when using that method of cooking, the left over water in the pot ends up with more nutrition and better color. Steaming vegetables prevents that from happening. When steaming vegetables in an electric steamer, the water is evaporated through the valve at the top leaving you with beautiful and tender vegetables.
Cooking rice: Cooking rice is a hard skill to master. Most people get impatient when waiting for rice to be completely tender when cooking on the stove top. Not to mention, the chance of scorching the bottom of the pot causing the rice to develop a burnt taste. When steaming rice in an electric steamer, the rice is cooked to perfection by the use of a built in timer. Steam from the boiling water escapes through the valve producing fluffy, tender rice.
It is entirely possible to cook an entire meal in an electric steamer. Cooking a meal in a steamer is easy to do because you effortlessly throw in all of the ingredients and let it cook on its own.
Cooking broccoli and rice: Measure 1 cup of rice for every two people being served. Add equal amounts of water for every cup of rice used. Add 1 cup of frozen broccoli and a cube of chicken bouillon. Allow to cook until rice is tender and fluffy. Add choice of cheese, stir well and serve.
Cooking chicken and rice: Measure 1 cup of rice for each person being served. Add equal amounts of water for every cup of rice used. Add 1 cup of pre-cooked, chopped chicken. Cook until rice is fluffy and tender. Stir well and serve.
Cooking stir-fry vegetables: Who said that stir fry had to be done in a wok? Add to the steamer your choice of fresh of frozen vegetables to stir fry. While vegetables are steaming in the electric steamer along with soy sauce or teryaki sauce, cook stir fry meat in a skillet on the stove. When vegetables are steamed to perfection, toss them in with the meat.
If you purchase a steamer that is large enough, it may come with a basket to keep the rice and vegetables separate. Therefore, creating the opportunity to cook one than one thing at a time. Obviously, an electric steamer serves many practical and healthy uses. The more you use the steamer, the more uses you will find for it. Even though a steamer may not be a popular kitchen appliance, it gives you a way to prepare healthy meals for you and your family.
Derrek Lewek is a web designer for the Brenda Oakes Discount Cookware site, where you can buy high quality pots, pans and kitchen appliances at discount prices. Whether you are looking for an electric steamer or a simple spatula, you can find a leading brand kitchen ware product at a low price.
Christmas Books
Christmas Cook Books:
Christmas books with feasts and parties are a wonderful family tradition, and of course for these events you need Christmas treats. Wither a small or large gathering of friends and family for a mingle served with Christmas Cookies book or a sit down Cozy Country Cookbook dinner, there are recipes that will have your friends coming back for more. These are a few of my favorite Christmas cookbooks. They have ideas for sitting the tables, trays, and decorations for large or small events or just for your family to let them know how special they are. In some of these books there is a section with stories written by people from all over that tell of their holiday memories or traditions, which can inspire others to begin their own new traditions.
A Special Place for Santa:
This is an excellent book that tells the origin and story of Santa Claus and his role at Christmas time. Many Christian parents have been concerned with the commercialization of Christmas and view Santa as its agent, which could take away from the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. This book helps to tie the two together, by starting when Nicholas was a Bishop in Turkey to becoming a saint to his transformation to Santa Claus. This book is a wonderful way to remind your children of the importance of Christmas and to help them not to just want to receive gifts but also to give gifts which will warm their hearts for many years to come.
Twas the Night Before Christmas:
This was first published as a poem in 1823, it was submitted anonymously to the Sentinel paper. It was loved so much that it was reprinted many times. But it wasn’t until 1844 that Clement Moore took credit for the poem. The poem is a story about a man who is awakened by the sound of Santa landing on his roof. He sneaks down and watches Santa go about his work of filling the stockings and putting presents under the tree. When Santa sees the man he smiles and nods and then up the chimney he goes. As Santa flies away he cries out Happy Christmas to all. In recent times the ending was changed to Merry Christmas.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas:
This is a classic children’s book written by Dr. Seuss in 1957. We don’t know the history of the Grinch, but we join the story with him living in a cave near the town of Whoville. The Grinch seems to like quit and solitude and hates Christmas time because the residents of Whoville celebrate it so loudly. So to put an end to the celebrations he steals the gifts and decorations, only to find that Christmas stills comes. Upon his heart growing to a much larger size he returns all the gifts and decorations and is welcomed in Whoville.
A Christmas Carol:
A Christmas Carol was the first of the five Christmas books written by Charles Dickens, it was published in 1843 and became a great success. The story has been done in plays and movies over the years and it has become a tradition to read or watch a rendition of it at Christmas time. It deals with themes which were dear to the heart of Dickens, poverty and social injustice. At its heart the story is a morality tale about Scrooge and the profound change he goes through in one night, from an old miser who hates everything but money, to a warm, charitable gentleman who keeps the spirit of Christmas in his heart throughout the whole year.
Mitch Jelly has been a writer for Christmas Decorations and Gifts for several years. Select to view Christmas Decorations Ideas. We also have a great selection of Christmas Books.
Original Chocolate Fudge – A Chocolately Treat!
Original chocolate fudge
I’ve sung the praises of peanut butter fudge on here before, but now it’s time to talk about the creamy, the delicious, the original: chocolate fudge. What started out as an “oops” in the kitchen from a bungled bunch of caramels has become one of the country’s most beloved treats. You can eat and sample different flavors and kinds, but it always comes back to the original, and the original can be a very picky difficult candy to try and master. Chocolate fudge – like toffee, divinity, caramel, and brittle – begins with sugar. You add various other ingredients to the sugar depending on the candy and boil until the desired consistency is reached. A lot more goes into making fudge then just the right ingredients and flavors and time and stirring. There’s also a bit of science and weather involved. You shouldn’t make fudge on a humid day because this could cause the chocolate fudge to be grainy. And if you know anything about the South – particularly the Gulf Coast, it is always humid here. So, what can you do? And then there is the problem of boiling sugar tending to crystallize. Now, thank goodness there are things that can be done to slow down crystallization – not much luck with the humidity though. The most popular way is to add corn syrup and cream to the mixture. And yet another is to brush down the sides of the pan with cold water if there are any crystals forming…and do not stir the syrup once it boils. And if you manage to boil your sugar mixture without the dreaded crystals forming, you still must take utmost care to prevent it from cooling too quickly because that will also affect the chocolate fudge’s texture. So, why would you go through all this trouble for a piece of candy? Because it is worth the care and trouble it takes to make chocolate fudge. One bite and you would agree.
Old Fashioned Chocolate Fudge:
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Grease an 8×8 inch square baking pan. Set aside. Combine sugar, cocoa and milk in a medium saucepan. Stir to blend, then bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer. Do not stir again. Place candy thermometer in pan and cook until temperature reaches 238 degrees F(114 degrees C). If you are not using a thermometer, then cook until a drop of this mixture in a cup of cold water forms a soft ball. Feel the ball with your fingers to make sure it is the right consistency. It should flatten when pressed between your fingers. Remove from heat. Add butter or margarine and vanilla extract. Beat with a wooden spoon until the fudge loses its sheen. Do not under beat. Pour into prepared pan and let cool. Cut into about 60 squares.
This is a really great and delicious recipe, but it can be somewhat difficult if you are not familiar with sugar candy cooking. There are easier chocolate fudge recipes out there…ones that call for ingredients that minimize the chance of crystal formation and some you can even make in the microwave:
Easy Microwave Fudge
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Grease a 9×9 inch dish. In a microwave safe bowl, stir together confectioners’ sugar and cocoa. Pour milk over mixture and place butter in bowl. Do not mix. Microwave until butter is melted, 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla and stir vigorously until smooth. Pour into prepared dish. Chill in freezer 10 minutes before cutting.
Tanner’s Pecan is owned and operated by Danny Fox and Michelle Parks and offers great chocolate fudge. Visit Tanner’s Pecans today for the best selection of chocolate fudge and Pecans.
Holiday Gift Baskets – A Great Gift Idea!
Holiday gift idea
It’s hard to believe that fall of the year will soon be here… and with that, the holiday season right on it’s heels. As I stood in line to register my child for school thinking that it was too soon to getting my little man ready for school. But no, it was the end of July and with school starting in a few weeks… fall was right around the corner. So, if school snuck up on me so quickly, what would the holiday season do? Come running up out of nowhere in a huge sneak attack from behind and clobber me? Yeah, it probably would. So while my mind wondered while standing in the endless line of parents and children I thought of something… holiday gift baskets. What a great idea. With holiday gift baskets, I could go as big or as little or as personal as I wanted to. Tanners Pecans already has such a variety of holiday gift basket to choose from the only problem would be selecting one. I send holiday gift baskets for nearly any and every occasion. Doesn’t just have to be at holiday time. My mother received one on Mother’s Day, my son’s teacher at the end of the school year, my friends for their birthday… I can always find a holiday gift basket for whatever it is I have coming up. And what I love is their versatility. If I’m going to send a family group gift, I can go with our Southern Creation holiday gift basket. It is chock full of yummy southern traditions. It has mini pecan pies, chocolate pecan fudge, peanut butter fudge, and our award winning brownies… Oh my goodness, the brownies. Who doesn’t like brownies? Add nuts, peanut butter, caramel, or cream cheese icing… whatever… brownies are just the best!
Grandma’s Brownies:
3 / 4 cup butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
3 eggs
4 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all – purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Grease 8 x 8 inch baking pan. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and eggs until light and fluffy. Stir in the unsweetened chocolate and vanilla until well blended. Mix in the flour, and then the walnuts. Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into bars.
Now, our Southern Creation holiday gift basket is our top of the line… filled with just about everything including the kitchen sink… Kidding about the sink of course, but this gift basket is sure to be packed full of goodies that the recipient will absolutely love. We have holiday gift baskets for sweeter tastes and more gourmet tastes and even sugar free tastes. Holiday gift baskets that include everything from orange, butter rum, and cinnamon candied pecans to chocolate pecan fudge, brownies, and nuts to cheese straws, she-crab soup, and pepper jelly. Now my only problem is deciding who gets what…
Tanner’s Pecan is owned and operated by Danny Fox and Michelle Parks and offers great holiday gift baskets. Visit Tanner’s Pecans today for the best selection of holiday gift baskets and Pecans.
How to Bake Chicken and Its Health Benefits
Some people can imagine chicken delicious only when it’s fried. Granted one has to admit that it really does indeed taste great when cooked like that, but is it healthy? And if it is not healthy, is there another way to prepare chicken quick and easy which not only will taste great but also provide a much healthier option for those on a diet or who simply wish to watch what they and their families eat.
Well, in fact there is, there’s a much better alternative of cooking it fried and indeed just as delicious, if not more — the simple question then is: Why not bake chicken?
It is not hard as it sounds either. By following simple instructions you are on your way to a healthy and great tasting meal.
To bake chicken we need either a whole chicken or 6 chicken breast pieces. Wash the dressed chicken thoroughly and coat with olive oil. Sprinkle enough salt and pepper to taste. If we want, we may put some marinade mix, like a concoction of rosemary herbs, thyme or oregano, dried or fresh. For simple marinade, try soy sauce and lemon. As we’re doing these, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
Now we’re ready to bake chicken.
-Put the chicken on the baking dish. Then place it in the oven and make sure it is uncovered.
-Bake chicken for an hour and a half in 350 degrees till we see the chicken skin turn into a luscious and juicy golden brown.
-Place inside a meaty part of the chicken a meat thermometer to check if the meat temperature has reached 170 degrees. If it has then we’re ready to take it out of the oven. To bake chicken thighs we need the meat temperature to reach 180 degrees. These standard meat temperatures make sure we bake chicken well with all parts cooked. Half-cooked chicken, or any meat for that matter, can cause stomach upset or even food poisoning.
-Then we cut the fleshy part of the meat deep. This should reveal white meat inside instead of pink and clear lip-smacking juice, not reddish. To bake chicken correctly all these tests should be satisfied. If not, we bake the chicken some more. Then we’re ready to serve tender and juicy baked chicken, in all its yummy goodness.
When we opt to bake chicken we come out with a healthy and tastier chicken than when we fry it. Deep frying may be a good idea. But baked chicken is still many times better. When re-heating left-overs through the oven chicken often comes out tasting better than if we re-fry left-over chicken.
When we bake chicken we can even opt to stuff it with potatoes, or garlic and onions. There are lesser chances of burning the meat or ruining the skin cover. Lots of times, we need breading to fry chicken—that’s added cholesterol. If we merely bake chicken there is no need for any covering on the skin surface.
So opt to bake chicken more often. It will surely do well for our taste, health, and family.
John Grant is a the author for a how to site where he is writing articles about how to bake chicken.
Espresso Romano
1/4 c Finely Ground Coffee
1 1/2 c Cold Water
2 Strips Lemon Peel
Fill filter section of a steamed-pressure coffeepot with water. Place filter in base and screw on top portion of coffeepot. Heat over medium heat until coffee begins to bubble into top portion. Reduce heat to low and simmer until bubbling stops. Serve immediately. Garnish with lemon peel.
Learn the Secret Restaurant Recipes and Prepare Your Own Meal
Are you sick and tired of waiting in a queue when it comes to dining at your favorite restaurants? Are you sick of snobbish restaurant crews and you do not with to take a very long time to book a reservation?
Do you want to know the secret to making secret restaurant recipes? If you don’t know the secret, then it is about time you find out.
Most people find it very difficult to cook. Not because they don’t have the skills but also because they just don’t have the time or they don’t have the means to acquire the best recipes to make the finest dishes.
You don’t need to become a master chef when it comes to cooking delicious home cooked dishes actually.
Some master chefs take many years to perfect their recipes. This is good and all but for normal people like us, we do not have the luxury of waiting for a couple of years before we can taste a fine dish. The good news is, those master chefs have already spent the time building those recipes. All you need to do is leverage on their secrets if you want to create scrumptious meals and restaurant dishes.
All this changes with secret restaurant recipes. With secret restaurant recipes, you are able to tap into the minds of famous recipes used in Billion Dollar Restaurants franchises such as the Cheesecake Factory, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), The Olive Garden, PF Chang’s, Red Lobster and even the Hard Rock Café!
There are many benefits of using the powerful secret restaurant recipes – you get to save lots of time when it comes to cooking. That means that you do not need to indulge in crazy guess works. You also get the benefits of saving money when you apply the techniques in secret restaurant recipes. Just imagine all the money you can save by cooking all your favorite meals and dishes in the comfort of your own home without waiting in line, looking for a parking space and booking weeks or even months in advance to dine in your favorite restaurant.
The best part of all is that there is very little learning curve when it comes to secret restaurant recipes. You get to get started in record time and understand all the fine details when it comes to producing powerful, mouth watering secret recipes on the fly. No more enrolling in long cooking classes anymore. You can learn all these recipes very easily and take your time to experiment with all kinds of different ingredients. Even if you fail, you can always try again at low cost.
There are many courses available when it comes to secret restaurant recipes. There are methods on how to cook secret sauces, there are recipes for good old comfort foods (good old American dishes), grilling guides, kids cookbooks and much more. You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to cooking that you will never want to leave the kitchen because there are so many recipes in secret restaurant recipes.
For more information on the Secret Restaurant Recipes, visit the Top Secret Restaurant Recipes guide here: http://www.secretrestaurantrecipesreview.org/
Where to Find Awesome Mexican Recipes
Feeding you, your family, and your friends means having something delicious that is also healthy. With the healthy awareness of our society, feeding those you care for a healthy meal is a vital part of living life to its fullest. Mexican recipes offer a tantalizing way to not only feed those you care about healthy meals but it also is a colorful addition to any type of meal.
When it comes to finding the best Mexican recipes for your needs, you will find there are copious ways to get the meals you want. Whichever you choose, you will have found a perfect method for your needs. Sometimes, using a combination of methods will serve you best.
Take a look at a few of these great ideas when it comes to finding the Mexican recipes you need for your needs!
Good old-fashioned cookbooks will never go out of style. Cookbooks change over time as do the methods of cooking. When cooking with some of the older cookbooks, it is important to realize that a lot of the ingredients may not be as healthy as they once where. These also help find those specialty meals you want such as those on a vegan diet or low-fat diet.
Cookbooks can be on a specific cuisine or a combination of meals ranging from breakfast to dessert. The type of cookbook you purchase will be well suited for your needs. Of course, make sure the cookbook fits your lifestyle! If you only have an hour in the evening to cook a family meal purchasing a cookbook where meals take all day is not going to be suited for your needs.
With the popularity of the internet, finding Mexican recipes online is another great method to get the meals you want. Delicious additions will be both gorgeously beautiful and healthy if you find the appropriate website for your needs. There are many websites specializing in nothing but recipes – even Mexican recipes!
When doing your hunt online, you will want to insure you have an appropriate printer, ink, and paper. In addition, what one person thinks is fabulous for them may not be fabulous for you. If you see an ingredient you know is not liked in a meal, do not automatically say, “No”. You can often find an appropriate substitute.
Mail order Mexican recipes are another popular addition to our modern society. Joining these types of clubs will get you a nice array of benefits from delicious recipe cards to a place to organize those cards into your own cookbook. Generally, these are mailed out every 6 to 8 weeks depending on the type of club you join.
Mail order is great, and it is always nice to get something in the mail, but you will find you are paying more for this type of Mexican recipe over the long haul. What you have to ask yourself is how much you like getting mail with a nice surprise that will feed the whole family.
Mexican recipes are extremely popular, and you too can insure you have the wonderful meals you need for your needs simply by keeping your options open.
More about Annie Dubois and great Mexican food or gift boxes can be found at Mexican Food & Gifts To Go.
Wonderful Mexican Recipes at Your Fingertips
Getting the most for your money means you need great deals for the home. Finding wonderful Mexican recipes for those delicious meals translates to a cheaper budget where you feed you and your family healthy recipes that are sure to please. From enchiladas to chimichangas, having the right recipe will make a world of difference.
Are you thinking of finding some Mexican recipes that are delicious but healthy for your whole family? Authentic Mexican food is a delectable addition to any home pleasing young and old alike. Unlike Tex-Mex cuisine, authentic style is not loaded with the copious amount of extra calories, fats, and sugars. Instead, authentic meals are a colorful meal idea with loads of healthy benefits.
Take a look at a few menu items you may want to investigate for your family!
Burritos are always delicious often consisting of a lean meat such as beef, chicken, and even pork. Vegetables are added with brilliant choices to choose from. Instead of just using those green bell peppers, try adding a unique taste as well as color with the brilliantly colorful red and yellow bell peppers.
Of course, many meals consist of flour or corn tortillas. Each type of tortilla has its place when it comes to Mexican recipes of a more authentic nature. One idea, if you have time, is to make your own tortillas with some of the kits on the market today. These kits generally come with a cast iron press and a bag of the appropriate flour to get you started.
Nothing says delicious like fresh, homemade tortillas!
Tacos are wonderful and a favorite for everyone. These are just as varying as anything else that has to do with cuisine from Mexico. In fact, you can make taco makings and let the kids make their own tacos. Definitely a delightful activity for the whole family.
Remember to avoid some of those empty calories; either negate the sour cream or simply go for a fat-free sour cream. Same great taste without all that extra fat that makes sour cream unhealthy.
Enchiladas are just as popular! Add your favorite ingredients, and you will find a dish of homemade enchiladas will become a favorite dish for just about any get together for church or family. There are a lot of thoughts on what makes the best enchilada, but with a little experience, you will find the pattern perfect for you and your family.
Another awesome factor when it comes to wonderful Mexican recipes is the fact garnishes go a long way. Garnish should be colorful with red, greens, or yellows. Regardless of your use of peppers, chilies, or other vegetables, the garnish is a wonderful way to make the presentation that much better.
When it comes to getting the best in Mexican recipes, the internet is a wonderful tool. Keep in mind that just because it is on the internet does not make it instantly perfect. The wonderful thing about this type of healthy cuisine is that you will make the dish better by exploring your own dishes. Soon, you will have a wonderful family tradition passed down through the generations.
More about Annie Dubois and great Mexican food or gift boxes can be found at Mexican Food & Gifts To Go.
Learn How To Use A Smoker And How To Smoke Meat Like The Professionals
Smoker grills are to the serious backyard barbecue enthusiast what power tools are to Tim “The Tool man” Taylor. Your backyard barbecues will become the talk of the neighborhood once you learn how to smoke meat the right way. Your hickory smoked chicken or mesquite smoked steaks will be not only in everyone’s satisfied stomachs, but on everyone’s lips come Monday morning at the water cooler. Forget the standard steaks, hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken on the grill top. Put smoked salmon on the menu and look out. We are talking about taking how to smoke meat to a whole new level.
If you can, get a combination grill, one that will let you grill your food the boring, traditional way, and give you the choice to smoke your food too. Traditional means grilling your meat over an open flame, using charcoal or a gas fire. But if you are going to learn how to use a smoker, you are going to have to heat up the fire box, put on your favorite wood — hickory, oak, cherry, mesquite, to name a few — and get to it.
These hardwoods, in the form of chips, are placed into the smoker’s firebox. When burning, they produce specific flavors when absorbed by the meats being smoked. This not only gets your mouth salivating, but the flavor cannot be bested by regular grilling methods. What’s nice about it is when you learn how to smoke meat; you learn that the fire never reaches the meat when it is being smoked. The downside of this aspect of how to use a smoker is that it takes longer for the meat to be ready to serve, but the upside is that none of the meat juices will cause fire bursts to reach up and blacken the meat, and your barbecuing reputation. The process of smoking generally takes about 3-5 hours for most meats, and up to 12 hours for larger cuts.
Another angle when learning how to smoke meat is that the heat from the smoker is lower. This means that you not only learn how to smoke meat, you can learn how to steam vegetables. What you end up with are vegetables that not only taste superb, but vegetables that keep all the good stuff in. All the nutrients stay with the vegetables. Good taste, and healthy for you to boot. When you learn how to smoke meat and vegetables, then you can move on to the more exotic eats like hickory smoked chili.
Part of learning how to smoke meat is learning how to choose the right smoker for your needs. There are several manufacturers, so you have many makes and models of smokers to choose from to learn how to smoke meat. They may not be low cost, but the investment in healthy eating, and tasty eating, is well worth the price you will pay to get just the right kind of smoker to learn how to smoke meat and vegetables, and anything else your healthy heart desires, all with less fat and cholesterol than with other grilling styles.
Robert Fox maintains a website with more information about how to use a smoker.
Making Milk Chocolate Fondue
Shop for Milk Chocolate Fondue
Talk about a child’s dream dessert, milk chocolate fondue is just a kid’s bliss. Minus the alcohol that might go into some recipes of course. I feel like I am in Charlie’s Chocolate Factory looking at that stream of chocolate. Milk chocolate fondue can be made with any type of chocolate really, Belgian chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate. There are inexpensive ways of making it. You can buy it from a well known vendor or make it yourself with homemade ingredients. And, what’s a chocolate fondue without some fondue dippers, like strawberries, bananas, pineapple, pound cake, and pecan, almonds, and anything else I suppose you could spear with a fondue fork.
They rank number one in the search engine and make one mean milk chocolate fondue, that is, Betty Crocker. When you think of baking and dessert making you think, Betty Crocker right? Their products are top quality and also very affordable. You can take the quick route to getting milk chocolate fondue, by purchasing from Betty Crocker. They have a great recipe for Chocolate Sour Cream Fondue as well.
Another great option for fondue is Nestle. They have such recipes as chocolate peanut butter smores fondue, a spiced chocolate fondue. Many of these brands offer advice on how to prepare such chocolate fondues, especially if you do not have a recipe book for them. Milk chocolate fondue is always delicious and a great treat to serve to guests at a special occasion.
Also keep in mind that by going with dark chocolate fondue over the milk chocolate versions, you will be receiving many health benefits. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, which are able to fight off free radicals in the body. There is also the absence of milk in pure dark chocolate, which is beneficial to many lactose free individuals.
Remember, if you are making your own milk chocolate fondue, there needs to be a liquid mixed with the morsels or else they will stick to the pan and scortch. Some use half and half, others evaporated milk with other substances, spices, etc. This is key to creating a rich, creamy, chocolate fondue for all your family and guests to enjoy. Make a few weekend tryouts before serving for a special event in order to get the process right and perfected.
Many places have incredible recipes for making chocolate fondue, such as local stores, online stores, and personal websites posting some old-fashioned recipes. If you are in the market for something specific, then do some searching, if elogance is your goal. Remember, chocolate is chocolate, it is all about how it is prepared that elevates it above the norm. Presentation is also another factor. This is as important as preparation. Which you can use a good melting pot, or 2-quart household pot to prepare, add all the right ingredients. Then presentation takes it from there. But, when you are done, it is still chocolate, whatever type you chose. I worked in salad and desserts in an Italian restaurant some years ago, and I remember how big presentation was.
I will prove to you that is a big part of making chocolate fondue. How do you feel everytime you look at a website displaying it? It catches the eye, it has appeal, I want to make that, you say, right? Focus on preparation first, then presentation last. If it is made right, it will taste right, then it can be made to look right.
This text is a link to a page on the World Wide Web.
Sunday Afternoons With Chocolate Pecan Pie
Sunday afternoons in the South… fried chicken, black eye peas, mashed potatoes, homemade buttermilk biscuits, and chocolate pecan pie…Family gathered around the dinner table enjoying conversation and each other’s company. Is there anything more scrumptious? It’s funny how certain foods and desserts automatically conjure up images of the South. Chocolate pecan pie is a southern tradition, just like regular pecan pie, but with the little something extra. A sweet chocolate taste that delights the taste buds, served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Oh so delicious. The first time I tasted the chocolate pecan pie at Tanner’s Pecans I was taken back to those lazy Sunday afternoons with my grandmother in the kitchen and my parents and aunts and uncles talking and laughing and us kids playing without a care in the world. I would always sneak into the kitchen to help my grandmother cook and bake. How else was I supposed to become a good Southern cook if I didn’t help? She would always smile and welcome me and let me be her little helper. Sometimes I was more of a hindrance then help, but she did not care. And it was through her love and patience that I gained my love of baking and fine Southern cuisine. My grandmother never used a recipe. It always fascinated me how she just knew how much and of what to put in… never really used a measuring cup or spoons either. Just a little of this and a bit of that. The older I got, I would try my best to write down as I went along so that I could make her desserts on my own. Her chocolate pecan pie recipe always made two pies, but it is so easy to cut in half and make only one:
Chocolate Pecan Pie
* 3 cups granulated sugar
* pinch of salt
* 7 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa
* 4 large eggs, 1 tablespoon vanilla
* 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
* 1 stick butter, melted (8 tablespoons)
* 1 cup pecan halves, and 2 unbaked pecan pie shells – deep dish.
Mix sugar, salt, and cocoa together. Whisk together the eggs, vanilla, and milk; stir into the dry ingredients. Add melted butter and stir until well blended. Sprinkle pecan halves in the pie shell, about 1/2 cup in each shell. Pour filling over the pecans. Bake at 350° for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the filling is set and the center is just slightly jiggly. Makes 2 pies.
I can smell the chocolate pecan pie cooking now. And it never had to be a holiday or special occasion to make it. Not like a traditional pecan pie that is usually thought of at Thanksgiving time or a spice cake that is more thought of during the colder months – chocolate pecan pie was good at anytime or at any meal. And even though I love my grandmother’s chocolate pecan pie, I am also a huge cake fan. And I went in search of a way to take that delicious taste and transform it into a cake… and I think I was able to do that by incorporating marshmallows for the vanilla ice cream taste.
Tanner’s Pecan is owned and operated by Danny Fox and Michelle Parks and offers great chocolate pecan pies. Visit Tanner’s Pecans today for the best selection of Chocolate Pecan Pie and Pecans.